From Elvis to Llandudno
The first (and last) time I played in the British Chess Championships was August 1977 in Brighton. I don't remember a lot about it, other that it was the week Elvis Presley died and the papers were full of stories about deep fried mars bars. On the chess front, recall scoring around 50% from my games in the Under 18 Championship, which was OK for someone who had had no professional coaching. Fast forward to 2017.
Read that the 2017 championship would be in Llandudno on the North Wales coast, and thought why not? 40 years wandering in the chess wilderness would come to an end. The tournament for my grading group was 5 morning rounds, Monday to Friday, which is was ideal. Booked a Guest House and train tickets, and readied my bucket and spade. On the way there changed trains at Crewe - thumbs up to Arriva trains for providing free Wifi unlike the meanies at Virgin.
Did a bit of tourism in the afternoon (when not in the chess commentary room). The tram ride up The Great Orme was excellent, with the country park and exhibition at the top. Walking back along the Promenade on my return, I passed the (apparently famous) Codman's Punch and Judy Show, which has been going for over 150 years. The Crocodile, the sausages, bit of violence. Time stood still for a fleeting instant. Didn't get to the museum as planned since my phone decided to expire to the strains of Bread of Heaven. Went couple of train stops to the Tesco at Llandudno Junction to sort out a new phone, Sim card etc. My Whatsapp fans could not miss me for too long.
Only went out for a single pint at The Albert one evening. I was on nodding terms (and nodding terms plus) with a lot of people at the championship, but didn't socialize in the evening. One fellow Essex player told me how he had got leathered in the evenings, but I prefer winning matches in the morning.
Packed all the extra essentials (apart from usual clothes, phone charger etc.): chess book, red top and red shirt for subliminal annoyance, vitamin pills, energy bars, coconut milk. Could always get more supplies at the the local ASDA.
It seems Bill Bryson rates Llandudno as his fave UK seaside resort, and one can see why. A picture postcard seafront with headlands on each side. The high street shops were generally tasteful, and the place did not feel tacky. It was a pleasure to walk along to the front to Venue Cymru every morning. As well as the chess championships, there was also a Conference of the United Pentecostal Church Great Britain & Ireland. It was easy to spot the difference:
Pentecostals: Men in sober suits, white shirts and ties. Women in Sunday best
Chess players: A plethora of grey beards, some in shorts, a few larger figures wearing braces, baseball cap (me and a few juniors). Women smart casual.
The venue also hosts various concerts. For example, Elkie Brooks this week, and an Elvis impersonator a few weeks ago.
Matches were timed at 90 minutes + 30 seconds per move for each player. I repeated to myself the mantra that if your opponent offers you a draw, ask yourself why he thinks he is worse off.
My morning matches coincided with a number of the junior tournaments (Under 8, Under 9, Under 10 etc.) in the same hall. Parents stayed with their little ones till the last moment, before being banished on mass at start of play at 9.15 am.
Come the first match, I accepted the offer of a draw after 2 hours, but really should have played on. Second match was also drawn. The next 3 matches all went the distance (around 4 hours) and I won them all. No point travelling 240 miles to wimp out. 4 points out of 5 and tied for third place
I would certainly visit Llandudno again (in Summer) for a holiday as it is a good base for touring around the area. Another weekday chess tournament? Depends on date, location and domestic politics.
A few notes on my games (non-chess players can skip this bit):
Game 1: Black faced my Favourite Birds Opening v Sicilian. 22 moves and no pawns taken. Agreed a draw in under 2 hours, but should really have played on.
Game 2: White Birds Opening v Sicilian. 23 moves, 7 pawns each, pawns swapped move 18. Agreed a draw as unsure what to do.
Game 3: Black. Staunton Gambit. Won on time after 62 moves. First pawn taken move 2. I had big advantage, screwed up badly, got lucky in drawn endgame
Game 4: White: Birds/Grand Prix Attack. Won in 32 Moves. First pawn taken move 14 Slightly worse off but applied pressure at right moment. Used time well.
Game 5 Black. English/ Reversed Grand Prix Attack. First pawn taken move 17. Best game played for a while. Win in 42 moves.
http://chess-results.com/PartieSuche.aspx?lan=1&id=50023&tnr=293955&art=3
Read that the 2017 championship would be in Llandudno on the North Wales coast, and thought why not? 40 years wandering in the chess wilderness would come to an end. The tournament for my grading group was 5 morning rounds, Monday to Friday, which is was ideal. Booked a Guest House and train tickets, and readied my bucket and spade. On the way there changed trains at Crewe - thumbs up to Arriva trains for providing free Wifi unlike the meanies at Virgin.
Did a bit of tourism in the afternoon (when not in the chess commentary room). The tram ride up The Great Orme was excellent, with the country park and exhibition at the top. Walking back along the Promenade on my return, I passed the (apparently famous) Codman's Punch and Judy Show, which has been going for over 150 years. The Crocodile, the sausages, bit of violence. Time stood still for a fleeting instant. Didn't get to the museum as planned since my phone decided to expire to the strains of Bread of Heaven. Went couple of train stops to the Tesco at Llandudno Junction to sort out a new phone, Sim card etc. My Whatsapp fans could not miss me for too long.
Only went out for a single pint at The Albert one evening. I was on nodding terms (and nodding terms plus) with a lot of people at the championship, but didn't socialize in the evening. One fellow Essex player told me how he had got leathered in the evenings, but I prefer winning matches in the morning.
Packed all the extra essentials (apart from usual clothes, phone charger etc.): chess book, red top and red shirt for subliminal annoyance, vitamin pills, energy bars, coconut milk. Could always get more supplies at the the local ASDA.
It seems Bill Bryson rates Llandudno as his fave UK seaside resort, and one can see why. A picture postcard seafront with headlands on each side. The high street shops were generally tasteful, and the place did not feel tacky. It was a pleasure to walk along to the front to Venue Cymru every morning. As well as the chess championships, there was also a Conference of the United Pentecostal Church Great Britain & Ireland. It was easy to spot the difference:
Pentecostals: Men in sober suits, white shirts and ties. Women in Sunday best
Chess players: A plethora of grey beards, some in shorts, a few larger figures wearing braces, baseball cap (me and a few juniors). Women smart casual.
The venue also hosts various concerts. For example, Elkie Brooks this week, and an Elvis impersonator a few weeks ago.
Matches were timed at 90 minutes + 30 seconds per move for each player. I repeated to myself the mantra that if your opponent offers you a draw, ask yourself why he thinks he is worse off.
My morning matches coincided with a number of the junior tournaments (Under 8, Under 9, Under 10 etc.) in the same hall. Parents stayed with their little ones till the last moment, before being banished on mass at start of play at 9.15 am.
Come the first match, I accepted the offer of a draw after 2 hours, but really should have played on. Second match was also drawn. The next 3 matches all went the distance (around 4 hours) and I won them all. No point travelling 240 miles to wimp out. 4 points out of 5 and tied for third place
I would certainly visit Llandudno again (in Summer) for a holiday as it is a good base for touring around the area. Another weekday chess tournament? Depends on date, location and domestic politics.
A few notes on my games (non-chess players can skip this bit):
Game 1: Black faced my Favourite Birds Opening v Sicilian. 22 moves and no pawns taken. Agreed a draw in under 2 hours, but should really have played on.
Game 2: White Birds Opening v Sicilian. 23 moves, 7 pawns each, pawns swapped move 18. Agreed a draw as unsure what to do.
Game 3: Black. Staunton Gambit. Won on time after 62 moves. First pawn taken move 2. I had big advantage, screwed up badly, got lucky in drawn endgame
Game 4: White: Birds/Grand Prix Attack. Won in 32 Moves. First pawn taken move 14 Slightly worse off but applied pressure at right moment. Used time well.
Game 5 Black. English/ Reversed Grand Prix Attack. First pawn taken move 17. Best game played for a while. Win in 42 moves.
http://chess-results.com/PartieSuche.aspx?lan=1&id=50023&tnr=293955&art=3
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